JAKARTA - Carlos Edriel Yulo banked on a sizzling first try to recapture the men's vault gold medal with a score of 14.886 points, capping his stint on a high note at the close the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships here Saturday.
After settling for bronze in the floor exercise the previous day, the Paris Olympic double gold winner lit up the 16,500-seat arena with a spectacular first vault, netting him a sizzling mark of 15.20, including a .20 stick bonus.
This high score was crucial and the edge the gymnast needed after mustering 14.533 on his second attempt with still five more entries to go in the nerve-wracking men's vault finale.
But Yulo, who seized the upper hand as the third entry to compete among the eight quarterfinalists, had to sit on pins and needles until the eighth and last gymnast, veteran Armenian Arthur Davtyan, had completed his vault.
The pint-sized Pinoy phenom pumped his fists with relief and rejoicing when the big screen displayed Davtyan's score of 14.833, the Paris Olympic silver medalist behind Yulo, knowing that he had finally won the gold.
Daytyan, who had 14.800 on his first vault and 14.866 on the second, was just .033 of a point behind the Filipino, while Ukraine's Nazar Chepurnyi took the bronze.
The performance showed marked improvement over the last world meet held in 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium, where he went home empty-handed.
It was also his second vault title after topping the event in the 2021 edition in Kitakyushu, Japan, after the Tokyo Olympics, and third overall, adding the men's floor exercise championship he took six years ago in Stuttgart, Germany.
"Caloy (Yulo) is truly our national treasure, and he continues to excite our countrymen on the world stage. With the nation’s full support, I’m sure our two-time Olympic champion will make us proud over and over," said Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Pato Gregorio shortly after he welcomed over 18,000 participants in the opening of Batang Pinoy 2025 in General Santos City.
"Hats off to our gymnastics association as well. Mabuhay ka, Caloy! Mabuhay ang Philippine sports!"
